Men’s Mental Health Month

June marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and for those who know me, this is a cause I hold close to my heart. It’s not just important—it’s invaluable. Raising awareness for men’s emotional wellbeing matters not just for men, but for everyone.

There’s still a lingering stigma that men don’t talk, shouldn’t cry, or need to “man up.” This outdated mentality has done nothing but contribute to Australia’s rising suicide rate. It’s time we change that.

Recently, I experienced a personal reminder of how fragile our mental and physical health can be. After playing in a local footy carnival, I managed two short games. But the strain—warming up, cooling down, and pushing through old knee injuries—took its toll. By the third game, I couldn’t continue. I couldn’t even put weight on my leg for ten minutes. That night, when I went out to meet the team, I used my grandfather’s walking stick for support—for the first time in public.

The vulnerability hit me hard. I felt weak. Exposed. But I reminded myself: these emotions are valid, and they don’t make me any less.

Men, like women, need connection, purpose, and support. We all deserve to feel seen and appreciated.

I value initiatives like R U OK? Day, but we need to move beyond one day a year. Emotional check-ins should be part of our everyday culture. We should all be equipped with basic mental health literacy—knowing how to recognise subtle behavioural shifts in those around us.

But more than anything, Men’s Mental Health needs to be accepted as a real, ongoing priority. We need stronger support networks, not just at home, but in workplaces and across communities.

What baffles me is how some still dismiss this conversation, laugh at the idea that men could be emotionally vulnerable. I may never understand that kind of thinking.

If our goal is to reduce suicide rates, promote mental fitness, and build more resilient communities, then why wouldn’t we take every step we can to protect each other?

Let’s remove the stigma. Let’s support our mates. Let’s keep the conversation going—not just in June, but all year round.